ZAGREB, July 31 (Hina) - A constitutional bill on national minorities in its first reading gained support in the Croatian Sabor on Wednesday from representatives of all party benches even though there were some differences of opinion
on positive discrimination and the election of minority representatives to the parliament.
ZAGREB, July 31 (Hina) - A constitutional bill on national
minorities in its first reading gained support in the Croatian
Sabor on Wednesday from representatives of all party benches even
though there were some differences of opinion on positive
discrimination and the election of minority representatives to the
parliament. #L#
The Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), Liberal Party (LS),
Croatian People's Party (HNS) and Independent Liberals (IL)
support the idea of dual voting to be possible for members of
national minorities while the bench for national minorities stated
it would support the bill if an amendment is accepted by which the
law would provide for the possibility of obtaining the right to the
dual voting.
The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Croatian Peasant Party
(HSS), Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Croatian Party of Rights
(HSP) and Democratic Centre (DC) stated that they considered the
solution of the election of minority representatives to the Sabor
as acceptable while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) supports a
clear concept of a civil state where everyone has equal voting
rights.
Minority representatives, according to the SDP, would be chosen to
the Sabor from party electoral slates or from independent listings.
If they should not attain the necessary representation then
supplementary elections would be organised.
Speaking on behalf of the IDS bench, Damir Kajin said they
considered the constitutional bill as a poor "discriminatory act
and a consequence of trade" by the leading coalition party - SDP -
and the strongest opposition party - HDZ.
Kajin claimed that minority self-government was the minimum that
could be offered to minorities because Croatia, as he claimed,
motivates emigration of minorities and is sliding towards becoming
an ethnically clean country.
An HDZ MP, Luka Bebic, reacted stating that there was no trade
between the HDZ and SDP and added that the IDS has been bargaining
within the country and outside it since its existence and gaining
use of it.
Speaking on behalf of the HDZ bench Vladimir Seks believes that the
existing constitutional law on minority rights guarantees rights
in keeping with the highest European standards. Seks believes that
the reason for the new constitutional law was to ensure the dual
voting for members of minority groups which HDZ opposes and so
supports the proposed version of the matter.
He nevertheless asked that prior to the adoption of the minority
bill, a law on the election of MPs should be passed which would
determine how many MPs minorities could elect to the Sabor.
MP Kajin asked Seks why 600 thousand members of minorities
disappeared in the period in between two population censuses if
minority rights were at a European level.
Zlatko Kramaric (LS bench) warned that a series of articles in the
bill should be harmonised with the Constitution because he believed
that minorities could not cause any threat to the majority nation if
they were to be given dual voting rights.
Jadranka Katarincic-Skrlj (HSLS bench) stressed that the proposed
bill was acceptable with regard to positive discrimination but this
cannot be brought down to the right to two votes. The HSLS proposed
that the number of MPs for national minorities be increased from
five to eight and that they should have one deputy Sabor president
position.
Furio Radin (the bench for national minorities) said it was unclear
why Mato Arlovic (SDP) was embarking on a crusade war against
minorities.
He claimed that the Committee for the Constitution, Rule Book and
Political System that is presided by Arlovic was responsible for
proposing the amendment of the election of minority
representatives from party electoral slates before minority
representatives even suggested that the bill go through two
readings in the Sabor. Minority representatives and Arlovic
confronted each other in the Sabor on Tuesday over whether the bill
should be processed under urgent procedure.
Anto Djapic (HSP) supports the bill but he asked that minority
rights be conditioned reciprocally, that is, that the same rights
should be given to Croat communities in the ethnic motherlands of
Croatian national minorities.
(hina) sp ms